Museum unveils science activity room for kids

Stephanie Davidson & Emily West hold up a plaque of recognition after the Lake Meredith Aquarium and Wildlife Museum opened a new science activity room (Drew Powell ABC 7 News)

FRITCH, Texas (KVII) —

The Lake Meredith Aquarium & Wildlife Museum is now home to a new science activity room. A $2,144 grant from the Lake Meredith Economic Development Corporation and private donations helped fund the new (learning-based) endeavor at the museum. The current director and former director of the museum received a plaque of recognition honoring the work done to get a new science activity room completed.

“We have pretty much everything but hands on activities,” said Stephanie Davidson, museum director. “It was just kind of adding to what we have as far as pre-existing activities go.”

“This is amazing,” said Emily West, City of Fritch resident/former museum director. “I’m glad that we were able to get a grant to do this. It’s hands on which is wonderful. The kids can actually learn hands on like we use to do as children, which you don’t see anymore.”

The new features are for kids between the ages of 3 and 18. On average between 60 and 80 people visit the museum weekly. The number of visitors is expected to rise now that a new science activity room is complete with a number, of new features.

“Of course, it will make their brain work and it will also encourage them to go into one these fields like Paleontology,” said West. “Maybe the kids will learn how to build things.”

“The idea is keeping the children engaged because a lot of this stuff is educational,” said Davidson. “There is a lot of magnetic stuff and a lot of plasma involved. The children can come here and they see the fish in the aquarium and they enjoy that but this will keep them engaged in learning.”

Events are planned for later in the year as part of the museum’s community outreach. On Oct. 20th the museum is hosting its first Halloween Party. Another event is booked for the month of December to help get local, residents more involved in community events.